Where East Meets West with Dr. David Cherian: Recent Episodes

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How Ge Gen and Sheng Ma Can Help with AcneChinese medicine links acne to excessive heat in the body, which may originate in the exterior (the skin) or in deeper parts of the body. In both cases, a combination of Chinese herbs Ge Gen and Sheng Ma are frequently used to help with acne.

As one of the world’s most common skin conditions, acne affects up to 90 percent of adolescents and is common well into middle age. A lot of research has been dedicated to understanding acne and how to treat it, but for most patients, finding an effective treatment option means months of trial and error.

Many of these patients turn to effective alternatives like Chinese medicinal herbs to improve their results.

Acne Causes and Complications: A Western Medical Perspective

Western medicine has proposed several theories as to what causes acne, including:

• Excess sebum production – Sebum is a fat-based oil substance produced by sebaceous glands located in the skin. These glands are heavily concentrated on the face, back and shoulders, and ensure the skin remains moist. However, excessive sebum production can clog pores and lead to acne.
• Bacteria – Certain types of bacteria are also linked to acne, as they may intrude into pores and also clog them up. Propionibacterium acnes is the bacteria most closely linked to the condition.
• Inflammation – Higher levels of inflammatory compounds in the blood are linked to acne. Inflammatory acne typically presents with papules, pustules, nodules or cysts – the swollen blemishes and whiteheads that most people think of when they think of acne.
• Hormone imbalances – Hormone imbalances, particularly androgen imbalances, can also cause acne to emerge or worsen. This is more common in women, who may notice their acne worsens and fades with their menstrual cycle. Birth control is a common treatment option for these women.
• Dietary factors – It isn’t clear how diet affects acne, and previous theories (eating greasy foods or chocolate, for example) have since been debunked. However, researchers believe that carbohydrate-rich foods may worsen the condition.
• Stress – Stress doesn’t cause acne, but it can worsen it by affecting a person’s hormone levels.

Researchers are still studying the root causes behind acne, as there is still much to learn. However, for the majority of patients there are likely several factors at work. This is one of the reasons why acne is considered an individualized disorder, as there isn’t a single explanation for every case.

Complications of acne include hyperpigmentation and scarring. Hyperpigmentation appears as dark spots on the skin and is typically the result of injury or inflammation – such as the inflammation resulting from acne. It can take months for hyperpigmentation to clear up on its own.

Scarring (which occurs in about 20 percent of people with acne) lasts even longer. Acne scars are classified as atrophic (depression), hypertrophic (raised) or keloid scars. In each case, scarring may fade somewhat over several months, but most scarring is permanent to an extent.

Western Medicine Treatments for AcneWestern treatments for acne may consist of behavioral changes, topical medications, or oral medications. Some examples of behavioral changes include:

• Avoid picking at acne
• Avoid applying irritants to the skin, like sunscreen
• Choose a gentle cleanser when cleaning the skin
• Wash the skin after strenuous activity or heavy sweating

Common topical medications for acne include:

• Tretinoin
• Adapalene
• Tazarotene
• Clindamycin
• Erythromycin
• Salicylic and azelaic acid

Common oral medications for acne include:

• Isotretinoin
• Hormone treatments (anti-androgens and birth control)
• Antibiotics, like tetracycline

There isn’t a single optimal treatment for every patient. It may take several tries and a combination of therapies to achieve results. The condition’s severity will also dictate treatment – for example, severe cases of acne typically require a round of antibiotics before other therapies can be used.

The Link Between Acne and Heat in Chinese MedicineChinese medicine has a different perspective on acne. In Chinese medicine, there is a strong link between skin disorders and heat. When a practitioner examines a patient for the first time, one of their goals is to determine whether their patient has a hot or cold disposition. In other words, are they predisposed to feeling hot or cold? Practitioners strive for a balance in their patients, as excess (or insufficient) heat can cause health problems, and acne is one example.

In most acne cases, heat is a factor at some level. The question is – what level?

The Four Levels: Chinese Medicine’s Approach to Classifying DiseaseIn Chinese medicine, disorders may be classified using the concept of the Four Levels. They include the Wei, Qi, Ying and Xue levels. You can think of each as a different layer that may be affected by pathogens or disease – including heat. Depending on which level is affected by disease, the patient’s symptom profile will be different.

In some cases, heat in the Ying and Xue levels may cause acne, but our practice finds that it’s more common for patients to have excess heat in the Wei level. If this is the case, the objective is to clear heat from the Wei level and restore balance.

Treating Acne with Ge Gen and Sheng MaChinese medicine uses a combination of therapies to render results. For acne, specifically, herbal formulations are a frontline option – and the best formulations are those that release heat from the body.

Ge Gen and Sheng Ma is a proven herbal combination for acne, and this formulation has been used by practitioners for more than 1,000 years. It’s effective in an array of medical conditions, as Ge Gen and Sheng Ma work together to release heat that’s “trapped” in the body.

Ge Gen is a cool herb that targets heat trapped in the muscles. In addition to clearing heat, Ge Gen is also used in patients with flu-like or viral illness symptoms – conditions that often present simultaneously with heat in the muscle layer.

Sheng Ma also releases excessive heat, but it targets the superficial (or exterior) layers of the body, which is the skin.

Together, these herbs can fight pathogens and redirect heat that may be affecting the skin. This can relieve acne and other conditions that affect the body’s exterior.

In fact, Ge Gen and Sheng Ma were used for centuries to treat measles, though practitioners have since turned to other more effective methods. However, Ge Gen and Sheng Ma are still relied on to restore balance in the body’s superficial layers, helping with acne.

Chinese Medicine Can Provide Individualized Acne TreatmentAcne can be caused by a variety of factors, each unique to the patient. As such, most patients need a unique blend of treatments to address their acne.

A combination of western and Chinese therapies can provide optimal results for many, so it’s recommended that patients work with a practitioner who is also board certified in western medicine. These physicians can provide the most effective therapies from both a western and Chinese medicine perspective, including herbal therapies like Ge Gen and Sheng Ma.

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Back Pain, Du Zhong and Xu DuanBack pain is an extremely common musculoskeletal condition, affecting close to 10 percent of people globally. There are dozens of potential causes behind back pain, ranging from simple ligament or tendon strains, to fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and spinal deformities.

For many people experiencing intermittent back pain, the condition can be limiting and reduce quality of life. There are treatment options, but it can be difficult to identify which treatment to use with a patient, given the number of potential causes. Chinese medicine offers an effective alternative, though, in the form of beneficial botanicals like Du Zhong and Xu Duan.

How western and Chinese medicine explain back painIn western medicine, the goal is to isolate the cause of back pain – which could be a muscle, a ligament or a disc. It’s common for physicians to find no clear cause at all, even after imaging the patient.

Chinese medicine practitioners take a different approach to understanding back pain. In Chinese medicine, disease conditions can arise from weakness in an organ, and this connection may not be obvious. Over centuries of study, though, practitioners have identified the complex, interconnected nature of the body. And in the case of back pain, a common problem is weakness in the kidneys.

The kidneys govern lower body and lower extremity health in Chinese medicine, so if there are deficiencies in the kidneys, this can manifest as back pain. If a kidney problem is expected, there are additional health markers that practitioners can use to assess the kidneys. This includes the color of urine, how often the patient urinates and body temperature.

Using Du Zhong and Xu Duan to Treat Back PainHouston practitioners frequently rely on herbal formulations to treat back pain, and a popular combination is Du Zhong (Eucommia plant) and Xu Duan (Teasel plant). These herbs both target the kidneys, but they influence them on different levels. Du Zhong restores the kidney Qi while Xu Duan enters the kidney channel and promotes movement in the blood. In effect, the kidneys’ essential energy is restored while circulation is improved through the organ. If kidney deficiencies are behind back pain, this herbal combination can address the underlying cause.

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Oligospermia and Yi Zhi RenOligospermia is the medical term for a low sperm count. It’s typically identified during a fertility screening – specifically, by analyzing the patient’s sperm sample. The threshold for oligospermia is 15 million sperm per milliliter of sample. Any count under this number qualifies for diagnosis.

Treating low sperm count can be a challenge, as there are numerous potential causes. However, in Chinese medicine fortifying the kidneys is the focus of treatment. One way Houston practitioners help fortify the kidneys is with beneficial herbs like Yi Zhi Ren.

Causes of Oligospermia: A Western and Chinese Medicine PerspectiveIn western medicine, there are a large number of factors associated with oligospermia. It could be due to a medical condition or disease, such as varicocele, tubule defects, tumors, hormonal imbalances, chromosomal defects, celiac disease, and infections. Previous surgeries, certain medications and drug/alcohol use are all linked to low sperm count as well. Environmental toxins and stress are also risk factors. Given the number of potential causes, it can be difficult to treat oligospermia, though some causes can be reversed. Varicocele is the most common reversible form of the condition.

Chinese medicine considers sperm quality and testicular health to be closely tied to kidney health. Practitioners assert that the body is an interconnected network of organ systems. If one system declines in performance, it can adversely affect other organs.

In Chinese medicine, poor kidney health can damage sperm quality and quantity. As such, practitioners will consider any potential kidney-related symptoms when treating low sperm count.

How Chinese Medicine Helps with OligospermiaIn Chinese medicine, Houston practitioners resolve many medical conditions by identifying which organs are experiencing dysfunction and fortifying them. In practice, this means tonifying or balancing the kidney’s essential life energies – the kidney yin, yang, and Qi.

Yi Zhi Ren (black cardamom) is an herb used to tonify the kidney yang and essence, both of which are essential for good sperm health and function. It’s been used in this way for centuries and remains a popular option for modern practitioners in an effort to help those with oligospermia.

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Ovarian Cysts and San LengMost ovarian cysts are fluid-filled growths that develop on the surface of the ovaries. The vast majority of ovarian cysts are functional cysts, meaning they develop as a result of the menstrual cycle. There are other cysts unrelated to menstrual cycles, including ovarian cancer, but they are comparatively rare.

In most women, functional ovarian cysts produce minimal, if any, symptoms. However, some may experience complications from these cysts, including significant abdominal pain, potential internal bleeding, and even fertility problems.

There are treatments available for those suffering with ovarian cysts, including Chinese medicinal herbs like San Leng.

The Signs, Symptoms and Complications of Ovarian CystsMost women with ovarian cysts will not experience noticeable symptoms, but those that do may note the following:

• Intermittent pelvic pain which may manifest as a dull ache or a sharp pain near the navel
• Bloating or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen

Risk factors include age (ovarian cysts are more common in premenopausal women), pregnancy, and medical conditions that affect hormones like endometriosis.

Although most ovarian cysts resolve on their own, they can cause serious complications in some patients. Large cysts may push on the ovaries and twist them – a condition known as ovarian torsion. This can cause severe pain. Cyst ruptures are also possible, resulting in internal bleeding and pain.

In some women ovarian cysts can interfere with the reproductive organs enough to interrupt fertility.

How San Leng Can Help with Ovarian CystsChinese medicine practitioners consider most ovarian cysts (and other growths) to be the result of obstruction. Specifically, obstruction due to poor blood or Qi flow. Boosting both is the Houston practitioner’s goal.

San Leng (bulrush root) is a popular herb used for ovarian cysts, as it’s effective at fortifying the liver and spleen – both of which are closely tied to women’s reproductivity in Chinese medicine. The liver is responsible for maintaining blood quality while the spleen handles the Qi. By boosting liver and spleen function, San Leng is ideal for breaking up blood stasis and improving Qi flow. Over time, this will reduce the risk of developing cysts, as well as the size of any cysts that do form. Contact your Houston practitioner today to see how they can help.

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MCL Tears, Sports Injuries and Xu DuanThe medial collateral ligament (MCL) runs on the inside of the knee, responsible for connecting the tibial and femur. It provides lateral stability when the knee joint is in motion, so when MCL injuries occur, it can compromise the knee’s ability to function.

MCL injuries are common in contact sports, where any impact that drives the knee inward can result in a strain or tear. Depending on the injury’s severity, an MCL tear can sideline an athlete or anyone else for months before full strength is restored.

There are treatment options – western and eastern – that can help restore knee function and prevent future MCL injuries by supporting better overall health.

Symptoms and Treatment for MCL InjuriesMCL tears frequently produce a “pop” that you may hear when the injury occurs. The patient will certainly feel the pop, and it’s common for ongoing pain (moderate to severe) to emerge shortly after the injury. The knee may also be tender. Knee instability is also common in MCL injuries, and with severe injuries, it may be impossible to walk.

MCL grade 1 and 2 tears are incomplete tears that can typically be managed with rest, medication, bracing and physical therapy. Grade 3 tears are considered full tears and may require surgery if there is additional knee damage, such as an avulsion fracture.

How Chinese Medicine Treats MCL Tears and Sports InjuriesChinese medicine practitioners link ligament health to liver and kidney function. In Chinese medicine, the body is represented as an interconnected system, with organs influencing the function of distal bodily structure. According to practitioners, the kidneys and liver play an important role in musculoskeletal health, including ligament and MCL health.

If an athlete deals with regular musculoskeletal injuries, a Chinese medicine practitioner will likely ascribe part of the problem to organ weakness. In the case of MCL injuries, it’s the liver and kidneys that need support.

One way that Chinese medicine experts boost liver and kidney health is through herbal therapies. Xu Duan is a classic herb for this purpose and translates to “reconnect what is broken” – a reference to the musculoskeletal system. It works by strengthening the liver and kidneys’ essential life energies – Yang energy in this case – and by improving circulation. Both western and eastern physicians recognize that improved blood flow can also improve healing, and Xu Duan is a proven circulatory aid.

As with all Chinese herbal formulations, it’s critical that patients consult with an experienced Houston practitioner before taking the herb. Proper dosing is essential to maximizing efficacy while minimizing any risks.

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Whiplash, Du Huo and Qiang HuoWhiplash is the result of rapid, violent acceleration and deceleration of the head, causing the neck to flex like a whip. This forceful motion can injure nerves, ligaments, muscles, and bones located in the neck, causing a variety of symptoms that can linger long term.

Most people recover from whiplash with time and conservative treatment, but not everyone. Some people experience symptoms that last for months, or longer. Chinese medicinal herbs can offer an effective alternative treatment for patients with the condition.

Symptoms and Western Treatments for Whiplash InjuriesWhiplash is often the result of a rear-end vehicle accident, but any high-impact contact can cause it. Contact sports and physical abuse are two examples.

Symptoms of a whiplash injury may take several days to develop. If symptoms do emerge, they may include the following:

• Neck, shoulder or upper arm pain and stiffness
• Loss of motion in neck or shoulders
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Tingling or numbness in arms
• Difficulty concentrating and memory problems
• Sleep problems
• Blurred vision
• Mood swings or depression

Some of these symptoms are rare, but they can be long lasting.

Western medicine takes a measured approach to treating whiplash. Pain management, exercise and physical therapy are usually the first and last line of treatment for whiplash. Pain may be addressed with rest, heat/cold application, over the counter or prescription pain medication, or lidocaine injections near the injury site.

Du Huo, Qiang Huo and Their Use in Whiplash InjurySome patients don’t attain the relief they’re looking for through western treatments alone. For these patients, Chinese herbs like Du Huo and Qiang Huo may help. Both are used to treat a painful “obstruction” – either a blood-related or Qi-related obstruction. In either case, an obstruction represents a malfunction in how the body’s energies are communicated through organs and tissues. There are numerous pathologies in Chinese medicine that can give rise to an obstruction, including wind, dampness, or cold.

Du Huo (notopterygium root) and Qiang Huo (Angelica root) work in tandem to resolve these pathologies. Both are warm herbs that enter the bladder channel and disperse the wind, cold and dampness often associated with musculoskeletal pain. As the bladder channel runs up to the back of the neck, accessing this channel with the right herbs can target the source of the whiplash injury and deliver restorative herbal compounds where they’re needed most. Have a conversation with your Licensed Houston practitioner today to understand the ways they can be of assistance.

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Urinary Urgency, Di Gui Pi and Sang Bai Pi Urinary urgency is characterized by a sudden urge to urinate, along with potential incontinence and a need to urinate more frequently. Nighttime urgency (nocturia) is also common, so the condition can be disruptive around the clock.

Symptoms vary in intensity from person to person, but there are treatment options that can support better quality of life. This includes western and Chinese modalities such as herbal formulations.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Urinary Urgency?Western and Chinese medicine have differing perspectives on the condition.

Western physicians ascribe the condition to overactive bladder muscles. These muscles are responsible for pushing urine out of the bladder, and in people with urinary urgency, the muscles contract involuntarily, even when there’s little urine in the bladder.

Risk factors of urinary urgency include:

• Some chronic conditions, such as diabetes and some neurological conditions
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Age
• Hormone changes
• Some medications
• Overconsumption of caffeine or alcohol

Chinese medicine takes a different approach to the condition. Houston Practitioners consider the body’s organs to be interdependent on each other and not compartmentalized. As such, weakness in one organ can cause dysfunction in another seemingly distant organ.

This is the case in many people with urinary urgency and overactive bladder. Specifically, it is weakness in the lungs giving rise to bladder dysfunction. Keep in mind that the lungs, like the bladder, are responsible for water metabolization, so the organs are more closely linked than they may seem.

In our Houston practice, we find that heat in the lungs is a common cause of urinary urgency. This could be due to the area’s climate or higher prevalence of airborne pollutants.

How Can Chinese Herbs Like Di Gui Pi and Sang Bai Pi Help With Urinary Urgency?For many patients, a combination of western and eastern modalities can be more effective than either approach alone. For Chinese medicine practitioners, frontline treatment for urinary urgency includes beneficial botanicals. Di Gui Pi (wolfberry root and bark) and Sang Bai Pi (mulberry root and bark) are a commonly prescribed pair of herbs used for this purpose.

Both are considered cold herbs, known for their heat draining (or “clearing”) properties. When used in conjunction, Di Gui Pi and Sang Bai Pi can support better lung function, and we find that many patients report better lung performance after taking the herbs. By strengthening the lungs in this way, bladder health and function is also supported, helping offset urinary urgency and similar bladder issues. Have a conversation with your Licensed Houston practitioner today to understand the ways they can be of assistance.

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More Hiccups, Physiology in Chinese MedicineHiccups aren’t what most people would consider a medical concern, but persistent hiccups can be a major source of distress and frustration in those who experience them. Both western and Chinese medicine offer their own perspective on the condition, as well as treatment concepts that patients can adopt. Here, we’ll contrast the two perspectives and introduce the treatment modalities that Chinese medicine prescribes.

The Western and Chinese Perspectives on HiccupsWestern medicine is still working out the underlying mechanisms that drive hiccups. Currently, Houston physicians believe they’re caused by diaphragm irritation of some kind, but exactly where that irritation comes from is unknown. If a patient’s hiccups are severe enough to warrant treatment, western physicians will do so by prescribing anticonvulsants or tranquilizers.

Chinese medicine takes a different approach. Although hiccups can result from one of several causes in Chinese medicine, a common approach is to look for an imbalance of cold and warmth in the stomach and spleen. These two organs are closely linked in Chinese medicine, and the function of one can influence how the other one performs.

Houston Practitioners believe that cold foods and drinks are harmful to the stomach, and conditions arising from excess cold in the stomach can also produce vomiting, nausea, and other symptoms. Normally, this is treated with warm herbs. With hiccups, though, a different treatment approach is called for, as they are the result of a back and forth tug-of-war between warm and cold.

How Chinese Medicine Practitioners Treat Persistent HiccupsTo deal with persistent hiccups, Chinese medicine practitioners will typically rely on a combination of beneficial botanicals. A standard herbal formula is Shi Di (persimmon fruit) and Ding Xiang (clove). This herbal formula provides the warming effect that’s typically indicated for cold in the stomach, provided by the clove, but the addition of Shi Di balances out the cold/warm profile and helps direct energy flows from the lungs downward. This helps patients resist the compulsion to hiccup, thereby providing relief.

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Hiccups, Hiccoughs and Shi DiFor the vast majority of people, hiccups and hiccoughs are infrequent and short-lived, but still annoying. For a small number of people, they can develop into something chronic that never completely goes away. This can greatly interfere with daily life and cause distress to the patient.

Western medicine is still grappling with what causes hiccups, but Chinese medicine does offer ideas and treatment options, including herbs like Shi Di.

How Chinese Medicine Explains Hiccups and HiccoughsWestern physicians explain hiccups and hiccoughs as the result of diaphragm irritation, which can result in spasms. Research is still ongoing into the exact causes, but Chinese medicine has a different perspective.

Chinese medicine conceptualizes many disease states as a result of weak, unregulated, or disrupted energy flow through the body. Other pathologies may be attributed to “heat,” “wind,” or “dampness,” which describes the nature of the condition’s symptoms and presentation.

For hiccups, Chinese medicine attributes the cause to either yin or yang deficiency in the stomach (poor energy flow), or heat or cold in the stomach. To determine which is behind a particular patient’s hiccups, the patient is examined and their symptoms are considered to make a more precise diagnosis. If yin or yang deficiency is suspected, then energy may not be descending through the stomach like it should, instead reversing and ascending – which can result in nausea and vomiting.

Shi Di: A Chinese Medicinal Herb That Can Help with HiccupsFor many people experiencing hiccups, Chinese medicine practitioners recommend herbal formulations that include Shi Di. Shi Di is the persimmon fruit and is a slightly astringent botanical that’s long been used for hiccups. It’s also been used to treat stomach dysfunction in Chinese medicine for centuries. It works by descending the patient’s qi, facilitating energy flows in the right direction. This can calm the organs involved in hiccup and hiccough episodes and reduce their severity. Have a conversation with your Houston practitioner today to understand the ways they can be of assistance.

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ARDS, Dang Shen and Huang QiAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening episode that’s much like drowning while still breathing air. In people experiencing ARDS, fluid from small blood vessels leaks into the alveoli – the sacs responsible for intaking air and passing it into the bloodstream. This quickly and aggressively damages the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, resulting in hypoxemia – or dangerously low blood oxygen levels.

ARDS is a medical emergency and has a high mortality rate – it kills many people who experience an episode. Most patients require time in an intensive care unit to recover, and those that do may have lung damage that permanently affects their lung performance.

There are ways to offset the lingering complications from an ARDS attack, including Chinese medicinal herbs.

What Can Trigger an ARDS Episode?ARDS itself isn’t an ongoing health condition. Instead, it occurs as a result of injury or infection, so it frequently occurs when someone is already receiving treatment for something else. Some ARDS triggers include:

• Sepsis
• Severe pneumonia
• Inhaling harmful substances, such as smoke
• COVID-19 infection
• Chest or head injury
• Pancreatitis

It’s common for survivors to experience reduced lung performance for months, even years following an ARDS episode. Some have permanent damage, along with other complications, including memory problems, fatigue, and depression.

How Can Chinese Herbs Like Dang Shen and Huang Qi Help with ARDS?The immediate goal with ARDS is to stabilize the patient and support respiratory function until the patient can take in enough oxygen on their own. If the patient is able to recover from their acute episode, it will take some time to get back to normal. During this part of patient recovery, a pair of Chinese herbs can help – Dang Shen and Huang Qi.

Dang Shen (Codonopsis root) and Huang Qi (Astragalus root), on their own, can tonify Qi. Together, though, they synergize for effective lung support. Dang Shen and Huang Qi also tonify the spleen Qi, which is particularly important following a draining illness or condition – like ARDS. Have a conversation with your Houston practitioner today to understand the ways they can be of assistance.

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Gallstones: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments and How Eastern Medicine Can Help Gallstones are extremely common in developed, mostly western countries. It’s estimated that around 6 percent of men and 9 percent of women have gallstones in the U.S., likely driven by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors – with diet foremost among them. A cholesterol-rich … Gallstones Read More »

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Chinese medicine relies on therapies rooted, sometimes literally, in natural practices. This includes modalities like acupuncture and herbal therapies, both of which are effective in an impressive range of medical conditions. Their ability to balance the body’s function and encourage self-healing (or self-regulation) means eastern medicine has a strong track record of efficacy and safety … Liver Fibrosis, Muscle Cramps and More: How Bai Shao and Gan Cao are Used in Chinese Medicine Read More »

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Overactive Bladder in Women: How Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine can Help Treat Urinary Incontinence In older women, signs of urinary incontinence are surprisingly common. According to the National Institutes of Health, around 45 percent of women experience the condition to some extent. And for many, an overactive bladder can be distressing to live with. There … Overactive Bladder in Women Read More »

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Endometriosis and Its Impact on Fertility Problems Can be Treated Conventionally and with Eastern Medicine Endometriosis affects about 10 percent of women, making it one of the most common causes of menstrual-related pain and infertility. In some women, symptoms are mild or may not even be present. In many, though, endometriosis-related pain is severe enough … Endometriosis and its impact on Fertility Read More »

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GERD is a Common, Uncomfortable Condition, But Eastern Medicine Can HelpGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is widespread throughout the U.S., with about 20 percent of Americans experiencing symptoms. GERD is often manageable with lifestyle changes, but severe cases can be difficult to treat without medical support. And severe cases can have a negative effect on quality of life. There are medications that can help, but they don’t come without their own risks.

Eastern therapies – acupuncture and herbal treatments included – are another option gaining in popularity among GERD patients. There is medical research to back this approach, for both acupuncture and herbal therapy. As such, many acupuncturists will combine the two for greater efficacy.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of GERD?GERD is the result of gastric fluids flowing from the stomach into the esophagus. Normally, the esophageal sphincter – a band of muscle at the top of the stomach – keeps this from happening. In many people, though, additional factors may reduce the sphincter’s ability to do so.

The result is irritation and eventual damage to the tissues lining the esophagus. This can give rise to several symptoms, including:

• Chest and upper abdominal pains
• Nausea
• Issues with swallowing
• Coughing
• Dental problems

In some people, chest pains may be severe enough that they may feel like cardiac problems. Doctors can rule out cardiac concerns through testing, ensuring a proper GERD diagnosis is made.

If left untreated, GERD can lead to additional complications, including Barrett’s esophagus – a condition characterized by abnormal tissue growth in the esophagus. If the esophageal lining is damaged, the tissue that replaces it bears resemblance to intestinal tissue. This is more likely to become cancerous with time, so GERD can be a long-term cancer risk.

A Few Lifestyle Changes May Help Control or Resolve GERD SymptomsWhile GERD can be managed with medication, your doctor will likely first recommend some lifestyle changes. Some of those recommended lifestyle changes include:

• For obese patients, losing weight is one of the most effective ways to reduce GERD symptoms.
• Getting enough sleep and elevating the head during sleep. This approach uses gravity to keep gastric fluids in the stomach.
• Reducing alcohol consumption and smoking.
• Avoiding significant meals within three hours of bedtime.
• Avoiding certain foods, including fried, fast, fatty, and spicy foods.
• Reviewing the use of any medications that may be causing GERD.

Some of these changes are easier to make than others, but with healthier decisions, many people can resolve their GERD (or at least reduce their symptoms).

What Medications Are Available for GERD?If GERD is persistent and causing significant discomfort, there are medications that can help. They include:

• Antacids – Antacids are recommended for mild to moderate GERD and work by neutralizing excessive acids in the stomach. You’ve probably heard of Tums and Rolaids – two popular antacid brands. These are available over the counter and can provide immediate, short-term relief.

Antacids are not recommended for long-term use, however. If your GERD persists even with the occasional antacid, alternative medications or treatment options may be required.

• Histamine-2 blockers – Histamine-2 blockers work by binding to parietal cells in the GI tract – specifically, their histamine receptors. This prevents histamine from binding to the parietal cells and stimulating the cells into producing gastric acids.

Popular histamine-2 blockers include Pepcid and Zantac, among others. They’re considered generally safe for GERD that does not respond to lifestyle changes, but severe cases may not respond to histamine-2 blockers.

• Proton pump inhibitors – Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are reserved for severe, intractable GERD that also presents with tissue damage or stricture. A couple of well-known brands include Nexium and Prilosec, and they work by interfering with an enzyme (H+/K+ ATPase) that’s necessary for gastric acid production.

Short-term, proton pump inhibitors have a generally safe profile. However, there are significant concerns with long-term use (longer than a year). Long-term use of PPIs may increase the likelihood of certain infections, reduce vitamin B12 absorption and reduce calcium absorption. As such, doctors try to avoid putting their patients on PPIs for extended periods of time.

How Acupuncture and Herbal Therapies Can Improve GERD in PatientsMedications can help many people suffering from GERD, but side effects and inadequate efficacy are driving many others to consider additional treatment options. Eastern therapies, including acupuncture and herbal therapy, are among them.

How can acupuncture and herbal therapies help with GERD? There are a few pieces of medical research that offer some ideas. That research includes:

• A 2021 review published in Front Neuroscience. This review considered seven studies and more than 10,000 patients. The review team found that acupuncture could be an effective means of supporting GERD patients, specifically because acupuncture may regulate some of the neurological pathways that give rise to GERD.
• A 2018 meta-analysis that considered 12 trials and 1,235 patients. This meta-analysis found that acupuncture was more effective than drug therapy for treating GERD. Further, recurrence rates were lower in the acupuncture group.

Acupuncture has several system-level effects on the body that may help with GERD symptoms. They include:

• Improving GI motility
• Improving neurological signaling in the gut-brain axis
• Reduction of visceral pain
• Reduction of inflammation
• Gut microbiota support

All of these can help patients in their fight against GERD. Herbal therapies can also help, as many eastern botanicals are used for treating GI symptoms. Certified eastern medicine practitioners are experts in mixing and dosing these beneficial botanicals for optimal efficacy and minimal side effects.

For Persistent GERD, Eastern Medicine May Offer SolutionsFor millions of Americans, GERD is a frequent source of discomfort and a potential risk factor for future health problems. Lifestyle changes and medications can make a difference, but for those who need additional support, acupuncture and eastern herbal therapies may be an option.

When provided by a trained Houston practitioner, acupuncture and herbal therapies can provide support for GERD patients who aren’t getting enough from medication alone.

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Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Support Breast Cancer TreatmentsResearchers are looking at acupuncture and its potential benefits from every possible angle. While much more research is needed, acupuncture already shows real results with a variety of medical conditions.

Let’s take a look at how acupuncture can help some women diagnosed with breast cancer. Specifically, how acupuncture can support western cancer treatments and improve their efficacy.

Some Breast Cancers are Characterized by the Way They Interact With HormonesThere are many types of breast cancers, and one way that oncologists categorize them is by the hormones they use to fuel growth. There are numerous breast cancers that use hormones to accelerate cell growth and reproduction, and oncologists can identify which cancer is which by the hormone receptors they express.

This categorization is essential and influences which treatments to prescribe. For hormone sensitive breast cancers that use estrogen for growth, a proven frontline treatment is an aromatase inhibitor.

Breast Cancer Medications Can Be Highly Effective, but Come with Side EffectsAromatase is the enzyme responsible for converting other hormones into estrogen. In people with certain hormone-sensitive breast cancers, aromatase accelerates tumor growth as it produces more and more estrogen.

Aromatase inhibitors prevent this hormone conversion reaction from taking place by reducing the amount of available aromatase in the blood. A few standout aromatase inhibitors include:

• Anastrozole
• Letrozole
• Exemestane

These medications have a powerful track record in breast cancer treatment. Research shows that aromatase inhibitors like the above do two things. One, they reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in the short term – within a year of treatment. Two, they reduce mortality due to breast cancer – they extend the patient’s life, in other words.

As encouraging as this is, it’s still difficult for many women to complete their aromatase inhibitor treatment. A typical course of treatment is about five years – a long time for any type of treatment – and there are side effects.

The most notable adverse effects associated with aromatase inhibitors are musculoskeletal in origin. Over the course of treatment, about 50 percent of women will experience the following side effects to a moderate or severe degree:

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Bone pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Among patients who take aromatase inhibitors and experience side effects, 1/3 are not able to finish treatment due to those effects. That’s troubling, as aromatase inhibitors are powerful weapons against breast cancer.

Fortunately, eastern medicine – acupuncture and herbal therapy most notable among them – can provide support for breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors.

The Medical Research Linking Acupuncture and Joint Pain ReliefAcupuncture has been studied for a huge array of pain conditions, including joint pain conditions. Some of the strongest positive research available on acupuncture is for pain-related conditions, and its pain-relieving capabilities may also be useful for breast cancer patients.

In fact, a high-quality study published in 2018 specifically looked at the link between acupuncture and pain relief in women taking aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and looked at 226 women suffering from hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

The women were divided into three groups. The first (50 percent of the total trial group) was an experimental group that received true acupuncture at noted pain relief acupuncture points. The second (25 percent of the total) received “sham” acupuncture, which is acupuncture delivered at incorrect acupuncture points or acupuncture that involves zero needle insertion. The third group (25 percent of the total) was a control group placed on a waiting list.

The researchers tracked pain levels through patient surveys. The patients were asked to rate their pain on a scale from 1 to 10, and surveys were conducted twice. The first survey was just prior to treatment and established a baseline for each person. The second survey was conducted six weeks following the end of treatment.

What the researchers found was highly encouraging. At the six-week follow-up period, the group that received true acupuncture lowered their pain scores by two points, on average. This result held true no matter how high patients rated their baseline pain. This was a greater improvement than the sham group or control group experienced.

Though it’s just one study, it confirms what licensed acupuncturists and their patients are already saying about acupuncture – that it works for pain.

Combining Acupuncture With Herbal Therapy and Individualized Treatments Can Enhance EfficacyRegarding the study above, there were still a couple of limitations that, if removed, could help patients achieve even better results. For example:

• Adding herbal therapy to acupuncture can boost pain-relieving effects – Eastern medicine practitioners regularly incorporate beneficial botanicals into their treatment regimens. Many of these botanicals have demonstrable pain-relieving and anti-anxiety effects, both of which can offset the physical and emotional toll that comes with pain.
• Individualizing treatment for the patient could also produce better results – In this area, eastern medicine differs from western medicine a bit. Eastern medical practitioners tailor their treatment recommendations to the individual. The goal here is to examine the patient, gather information that the patient’s body is offering, and use this information to develop a targeted treatment regimen. By tailoring treatment in this way, the practitioner supports the patient’s health in areas where it is most compromised, restoring balance and optimal function.

These are simple adjustments for a licensed Houston practitioner to make, so even though the study’s conclusions are exciting – they may understate what a licensed Houston acupuncturist could do for a particular patient.

Breast Cancer Medications Can Save Lives, and Eastern Medicine Can Help Patients Better Tolerate ThemWestern medications have improved the outlook for many breast cancer patients, but those medications can be extremely difficult to tolerate. It leaves many patients with a terrible choice – maximize quality of life or maximize longevity.

Houston Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and other eastern modalities are making the decision a little easier for breast cancer patients. For thousands of years, eastern medicine has been used to balance health and bodily function. Those benefits can be especially valuable for women aggressively fighting back against their breast cancer.

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Shingles Can Greatly Reduce Quality of Life, But There are Treatment OptionsHerpes zoster is the virus behind shingles, and the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you had chicken pox as a child, the virus is still inside your tissue. Specifically, herpes zoster prefers to hide in the nerves, though it remains inactive for most people.

However, the virus reactivates in some people, and this secondary infection is what doctors term shingles. Researchers don’t know exactly what causes herpes zoster to reactivate, but when it does, it can cause debilitating pain and other quality-of-life-reducing symptoms. Further, shingles can produce complications that are themselves a challenge to handle.

There are treatment options, though – both western and eastern in origin. Together, they can provide relief and reduce the likelihood of developing complications.

Shingles: Causes, Symptoms and Risk FactorsAgain, researchers aren’t completely sure why herpes zoster “wakes up” and produces a second infection. Currently, doctors believe that an important factor is immunity. In people with reduced cell-mediated immunity, shingles is more likely to occur. In addition to age, which is the single biggest risk factor for shingles, the following could cause a compromised immune system:

• Receiving an organ (liver, kidney, heart or lung) or bone marrow transplant
• Cancers – particularly lymphomas and leukemia
• Certain medications, such as steroids or chemotherapy

There are other risk factors, too, that aren’t well-explained. Women are more likely to experience a herpes zoster infection, for example, as are Caucasians.

When shingles flares up, it presents as a rash with a single stripe-like pattern. Why this presentation? Because shingles innervates a single nerve or region, the resulting rash branches across the skin in the same way.

The rash typically appears on the trunk or face, where it can threaten the patient’s vision. Before the rash and pain manifest, it’s common for the infected area to produce sensations like burning, itching or tingling. Other symptoms of a shingles infection may include fever, chills, headache and GI upset.

These symptoms can be severe, to the point where quality of life suffers. Further, shingles can spread herpes zoster to others, though anyone who catches the virus this way will develop chicken pox, and not shingles. Still, it’s important to manage the rash when around young children, the elderly, and other vulnerable people.

Complications Due to Shingles Can Also be Severe, or Even Life-ThreateningShingles is a serious illness on its own, but its complications are potentially worse. By far, the most common is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complication that affects around 15 percent of patients.

PHN is characterized by long-term nerve pain, emanating from the same area that was infected. It’s essentially a continuation of the same shingles pain, only it can last for years. For some people with PHN, the pain is severe enough to limit activities. PHN is more common in older shingles patients, and it tends to be more severe in older patients, as well.

Other complications include blindness (if the infection presents on the face), hearing problems, encephalitis and pneumonia. While shingles itself isn’t fatal, its complications certainly can be. Again, fatal complications are much more likely in the elderly – about 1 in 1,000 patients over 70 years old will die due to complications from the infection.

Prevention Through a Vaccine is the Most Effective Way to Stop ShinglesGiven the debilitating and potentially life-threatening nature of shingles, Houston doctors highly recommend prevention first. This means taking the vaccination.

The vaccine is called Shingrix and it’s recommended for people 50 years and older. It is administered in two doses, with a gap of two to six months between doses. The vaccine is highly effective and prevents infection in 90 percent of people. And this elevated immunity remains for several years following the second dose.

People over 50 can even receive the vaccine if they have experienced a shingles infection in the past.

Western Treatments Focus on Antivirals and Pain MedicationsIf you have developed shingles, though, vaccination is clearly not an option – at least not until the virus has run its course. When this is the case, western (allopathic) doctors typically turn to the following treatment options:

• Antivirals – Antiviral medications include acyclovir and valacyclovir, and both work using the same mechanism of action. Specifically, they interfere with the virus’s DNA and prevent viral replication. In terms of efficacy, medical research shows that both medications can reduce rash and pain severity, compared to placebo. The only significant difference between the two is how well they are absorbed by the body. Valacyclovir is taken up by the body more efficiently, and therefore requires fewer doses to work.

Given their mode of action, time is a critical consideration. Both medications are most effective if they are taken within 72 hours of symptoms appearing.

• Pain medications – Pain is the primary symptom of shingles, so controlling it is a primary objective for doctors. For many patients, over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol and ibuprofen are sufficient. If they aren’t, second-line pain medications like hydrocodone may be prescribed.

Antivirals are time-limited and pain medications can produce significant side effects, so many patients also integrate eastern (naturopathic) practices into their treatment regimen.

Eastern Modalities Include Herbal Therapy and AcupunctureEastern medicine has developed treatment options for shingles, including herbal therapies and acupuncture. An herbal mixture known as Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is the preferred first option for shingles.

In a meta-analysis that considered 15 trials and 1,811 patients, Long Dan Xie Gan Tang was found to be more effective than drug therapy in reducing shingles symptoms and preventing the occurrence of complications.

Acupuncture is also a popular form of shingles treatment, as it can reduce pain severity and reduce the chances of developing complications. Acupuncture points of interest are those associated with the gallbladder and liver channels.

Whether your Houston practitioner recommends herbal therapy or acupuncture (or both), the Houston practitioner’s goal is to identify how the body’s health is out of balance. Immune issues can result from age, stress, and other health conditions. Eastern medicine practitioners consider these factors when developing treatment.

A Combination of Western and Eastern Modalities Can Optimize Shingles TreatmentShingles is a potentially debilitating, potentially chronic health condition that can lead to serious complications. As such, slowing the infection and managing its symptoms are important to preserving long-term health in patients.

And to do that, integrated practices combine western and eastern modalities to achieve optimal treatment outcomes.

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Diminished Ovarian Reserve: Causes, Effects and Acupuncture’s BenefitsWhen fertility experts talk about ovarian reserve, they’re referring to the number and quality of eggs inside a woman’s ovaries. It’s a rough measure of a woman’s fertility, and roughly tied to the “biological clock” that’s unique to each patient.

Ovarian reserves vary greatly from woman to woman. Some women maintain high egg quantity and quality into their 40s, and some start experiencing issues in their 20s. In the typical woman, though, diminished ovarian reserve doesn’t start impacting fertility until they reach their 30s.

In most cases, though, when a Houston doctor refers to diminished ovarian reserve, they mean that the patient has a lower egg quantity and quality than is normal for their age.

What Does it Mean to Be Diagnosed with Diminished Ovarian Reserve?If you’ve been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve, it will impact your chances of getting pregnant. The situation isn’t hopeless, though, because 33 percent of patients are eventually able to get pregnant using their own eggs. That’s according to data from the Center of Reproductive Health. Some studies also show that women diagnosed with the condition have the same chance of conceiving within 12 months of diagnosis, compared to women with normal egg supplies. However, the research still needs to be developed in this area.

There are also a couple of important considerations if you have been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve and wish to get pregnant. For example:

• It’s important to talk to a fertility expert as soon as possible – If you are diagnosed and wish to get pregnant, it’s recommended that you consult with a fertility expert before moving forward with treatment. If you’re over 40 and are trying to get pregnant, it’s recommended that you schedule this appointment as soon as possible.
• Treatment will likely involve balancing hormone levels – Although the exact causes are unknown, diminished ovarian reserves are typically accompanied by elevated levels of certain hormones. Your treatment will likely include modalities aimed at restoring these hormone levels.
• IVF can be used in conjunction with other diminished ovarian reserve treatments – If you’re receiving treatment for diminished ovarian reserves, you can still undergo in vitro fertilization. In fact, some studies show that treatment can improve the chances of pregnancy in women receiving IVF.

Early diagnosis is important with the condition, and to confirm that diminished ovarian reserve is present, your physician will perform some tests.

How Do Doctors Test for Diminished Ovarian Reserve?

To confirm diminished ovarian reserve, doctors have a couple of standard tests that they may run, including:

• Biomarker testing – Blood and serum testing can determine what your hormone levels look like. This includes follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), both of which indicate how eggs are maturing in the ovaries. These hormones are released as oocytes (the eggs) grow and mature. Too much FSH or too little AMH may indicate fertility problems.
• Ultrasound counting – Your physician may order an ultrasound for you. During the ultrasound, your healthy oocytes will be counted and compared to a healthy baseline. Too few mature oocytes could indicate diminished ovarian capacity.

How Can Acupuncture Help Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve?If you are diagnosed, your Houston doctor will likely prescribe hormone supplements. Some research shows that these supplements can increase the likelihood of getting pregnant. In addition to western medical modalities, though, many women seek eastern forms of treatment. This includes herbal therapy and acupuncture, both of which can help women with diminished ovarian reserves. Here’s how:

• Acupuncture can help restore hormone levels for ideal ovarian development – Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the production of many hormones. Several studies suggest that treatment can also stimulate the pituitary gland into correcting FSH levels and helping with better oocyte development.
• Acupuncture can help regulate blood flow into the ovaries and uterus – Another benefit of acupuncture is its ability to improve microcirculation into various organs. As we age, parts of our capillary network narrow and restrict blood flow. This includes blood flow into the ovaries and uterus. Acupuncture can stimulate certain capillaries into dilating and increasing blood flow.
• Acupuncture can improve mental state and reduce stress – Stress is a noted drag on pregnancy chances and reducing negative emotions is part of a fertility treatment regimen. Acupuncture can help with this, as it produces a relaxed mental state that reduces anxiety.

Acupuncture can deliver these benefits without significant risk of side effects. Every needle is lightly inserted into the skin’s top layers, so the chances of adverse effects – minor discomfort, bleeding, or bruising – are minimal. In fact, acupuncture is often used to counter the side effects of drug treatment because of its effectiveness in treating pain, anxiety and GI symptoms.

What About Herbal Therapies for Diminished Ovarian Reserve?Beneficial botanicals are frequently used in conjunction with acupuncture to achieve better results in patients with diminished ovarian reserves. While more research is needed in this area, several studies show that some herbal mixtures (Cuscutae Semen, Dipsaci Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, etc.) can help balance FSH and AMH. Trained acupuncturists believe that this could be due to how the herbs improve function in certain organs, including the kidneys and spleen.

If You’ve Been Diagnosed with Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Pregnancy is Still PossibleDiminished ovarian reserves can impact fertility, but there are treatments available that can improve your chances of getting pregnant. This includes western and eastern treatments – and together they can improve follicle counts and improve their quality.

If you’re considering a combination of eastern and western modalities, there are Houston practices licensed in both medical philosophies. By teaming up with a dual-licensed Houston practice, patients receive the best fertility treatments that both medical schools have to offer. And every treatment regimen is tailored to the patient, so it’s optimized for your body and health.

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Although the height of the COVID pandemic is behind us, the virus is still active in the U.S. and producing significant illness. Fortunately, there are additional medical tools aiding doctors in their fight against the virus. Even with our current treatment options, though, between 10 and 20 percent of people hospitalized for COVID will develop long COVID complications.

Long COVID is the term given to COVID symptoms that persist for more than three months. Most COVID cases resolve within a month of onset. If you’re still feeling the effects of the virus a few months after being diagnosed, it’s time to consider treatment options for long COVID.

What are the Symptoms and Complications of Long COVID? Long COVID is associated with a large variety of symptoms and complications. The most common include:

• Fatigue
• Recurring fever
• Respiratory issues, such as cough and shortness of breath
• Exercise intolerance and reduced lung capacity

Long COVID is also associated with less common complications that reach beyond the respiratory system. They include:

• Body pains, including joint and muscle pains
• Cardiovascular issues, including chest pain, elevated heartbeat, and blood clots
• Pulmonary embolisms (a blood clot that gets trapped in the legs and blocks blood flow to the lungs), which is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency
• Rash
• Changes in menstrual cycle
• Neurological symptoms, including brain fog, difficulty focusing, headache, loss of balance, depression, anxiety, loss of smell or taste, insomnia and physical sensations that feel like pins and needles
• Digestive symptoms, including abdominal pain and diarrhea

As you can see, there are many complications of long COVID, and these can persist for months in some cases.

How Can People Reduce Chances of Developing Long COVID? The best way to deal with long COVID is to avoid it in the first place. As controversial as they are, it does appear that the vaccinations are the first option in preventing long COVID. That’s not because the vaccines prevent infection – in fact, the data shows that vaccinated people are getting sick just as often as the unvaccinated. What vaccines do is reduce the severity of illness if someone is infected with COVID.

In the large majority of cases, the virus is something people can get over without significant medical support. Among high-risk patients, including the elderly and people with chronic disease, the COVID virus is a greater threat. These patients are more likely to require hospitalization if they catch the virus, and long COVID is far more likely among people who are hospitalized with the virus.

The best way for these high-risk patients to avoid long COVID is to get vaccinated. Even if that doesn’t prevent infection, it does greatly reduce the chances of experiencing serious illness that requires a hospital trip.

In addition to vaccination, you can reduce the chances of developing long COVID by making good health decisions. Eating right, getting enough sleep, getting daily exercise, and maintaining low levels of stress all boost your immune system’s effectiveness in fighting the virus.

Eastern Medicine Can Help With Symptoms of Long COVID People who do develop long COVID, though, can attain relief through eastern medical practices. Long COVID cannot be adequately targeted by most drug therapies, so medications are generally only effective in short-term resolution of symptoms. And, of course, those medications can produce undesirable adverse effects in patients.

Western medicine has provided doctors with excellent preventative tools in the form of COVID vaccines. However, eastern medicine is particularly well-adapted to treated systemic conditions like those produced by long COVID.

How can eastern medicine help with the symptoms of long COVID?

• By considering the patient’s whole-body health – The eastern medical philosophy is predicated on supporting whole-body health. Illnesses are not generally reduced to the organs they affect, but the effects they have on the entire body.This philosophy is well-suited for treating long COVID because the virus isn’t just confined to the respiratory system. Eventually, it will reach deeper tissues in the body, and this may be what causes the symptoms associated with long COVID. Eastern medical practitioners work to prevent this from happening by bolstering the patient’s overall ability to fight pathogens and recover from illness.
• By offering low risk treatments with a proven record of success – Eastern medicine relies on a handful of tools, all of which pose minimal risk of adverse effects, as long as they are properly dosed and administered. This is one reason why eastern medicine is a popular adjunct therapeutic option, as it provides excellent support without putting the patient’s overall quality of life at risk.

The preferred tools for eastern medical practitioners are acupuncture and herbal therapy. Acupuncture and herbal therapy, when administered by a licensed practitioner, can provide broad relief against the many complications of long COVID. In particular, eastern modalities are effective against fatigue, pain, stress, anxiety, sleep issues, cardiovascular issues, and many other conditions. The medical literature supports this, which is why millions of people in the U.S. are including acupuncture and herbal therapies into their treatment regimen.

This approach can also help with the effects of long COVID. While you shake off the long-term symptoms of the illness, eastern medicine can support your whole-body health and help you recover faster

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It is estimated that a staggering seventy to ninety percent of the population experiences at least one tension headache at some point during their lifetime. Add to this that tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches for people to experience and it makes sense to educate yourself on the best types of treatment available. Increasingly, many are finding a combination of Chinese medicine and western medicine to be a well-rounded and effective approach.

About HeadachesMost people have experienced a headache before, but what may be different is how often it occurred or how severe it was. Some individuals may experience a headache once every few months when work and life become busy, or they are no longer exercising or eating right. Others may experience them much more frequently, like five to seven times a month or more, and without having any idea what could be causing them.

Headaches can fall into several different categories, including but not limited to migraine, cluster, and tension headaches. Individuals that tend to have headaches on a frequent basis are usually experiencing tension headaches.

Regardless of which type a person has, it could have the potential to cause major disruptions to their daily schedule and activities, such as meeting work deadlines, spending quality time with the family, or joining friends for an outing.

Fortunately, a combination of Chinese medicine and western medicine can give some hope to those needing relief from tension headaches.

Symptoms of a Tension HeadacheHow do you know if your headache is a tension headache? The best way is to compare the symptoms of a tension headache with the symptoms you personally are experiencing. Some of the hallmark symptoms of a tension headache include:

• Dull pain on both sides of the head simultaneously
• Pressure around the head (is often described as a band of pressure)
• Tense muscles in the neck, head, and shoulders
• Other causes, such as hunger, some foods, strong smells, etc.

The triggers are not universal and can be different for each person. They may also be difficult for a patient to articulate if the doctor asks them to be specific in describing their symptoms.

Some patients may only begin to notice a headache by realizing the muscles in their head, neck, and shoulders are tight. They may even absentmindedly begin massaging those areas instinctively to help relief some of the stress.

A tension headache does not usually evoke a throbbing sensation in the head, is not sensitive to loud noises or bright lights, and is not categorized by severe nausea or vomiting.

While anyone could be at risk of experiencing a tension headache, it is more prevalent in women than men.

Western Medicine’s Treatment of Tension HeadachesIn western medicine, a patient relaying their symptoms of a headache is what will help a health professional provide a clinical diagnosis. It rarely relies on methods such as labs or x-ray imaging. One of the single most important parts of a clinical diagnosis is a patient’s own account of their symptoms.

When it comes to the treatment of tension headaches in western medicine, it is done in an effort to mitigate symptoms. The first line of treatment of tension headaches offered by many doctors could include over the counter medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, Tylenol, or Motrin.

A doctor may also recommend one of these over-the-counter medications plus caffeine (the amount you might find in a strong cup of coffee) as studies have shown the combination to be somewhat successful in treating the symptoms of tension headaches.

For patients that deal with particularly persistent, regular, and severe headaches, some western medicine health professionals may even suggest daily antidepressant medications.

Collectively or apart, these efforts are made to help reduce the pain a headache is causing, but not to keep them from happening again.

Chinese Medicine’s Treatment of Tension HeadachesIt is not uncommon for those who seek out Chinese medicine to be the same people who prefer not to be on regular, daily medications or antidepressants if they do not have to. Instead, they are looking to solutions such as acupuncture and herbal formulas designed to look deeper into what is happening inside the body that could be causing headaches.

A patient going to see a Chinese medicine doctor will still be asked questions about their headaches, but a patient accustomed to western medicine methods may not be clear on what those questions have to do with the headache. This is because western and Chinese medicine regard headaches differently.

For example, in Chinese medicine there is no distinction between types of headaches. In other words, the condition is a headache and not a special type such as tension or migraine. These professionals will be much more interested in hearing a patient describe the location of their headache because in Chinese medicine the location of a headache is associated with certain meridians running through various organs.

From this viewpoint, all the internal organs of the body are connected to a meridian that runs through specific regions of the head. Some specific examples are:

1. The front part of your head (the forehead) is associated with the Yang Ming meridian, which correlates to the stomach and large intestine. This means that a headache in this part of the head could indicate there is an issue with a person’s stomach or digestion.
2. Headaches in the central top portion of your head that can be considered part of the Jue Yin meridian, which correlates to the liver and the pericardium. A person with headaches in that region of the head might have underlying liver, heart, or pericardium issues.

In Chinese medicine the goal is to find what is out of balance inside a person’s body that is causing headaches and then treating the root of the problem. To do this, a doctor of Chinese medicine may look at organ systems, examine chi, and blood levels. This should yield clues about what is going on inside the body at the organ level.

A combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture can be instrumental in alleviating headaches. Herbal medicine may help restore balance to the body and assist with underlying problems causing a high frequency of headaches. Herbal formulas can help regulate, strengthen, and support internal organs and should be customized to what each individual patient needs.

Acupuncture can be used to help regulate the flow of energy or chi throughout the body’s meridians. While acupuncture points can vary vastly from patient to patient depending on their own circumstances, some of the more common points typically include:

• The base of the skull in the back which is located on the gallbladder channel
• The central top part of the head at the vertex
• The top of the foot between the first and second toe which is on the liver channel
• The arm between the first and second metacarpals on the back of the hand which is connected to the large intestine channel

A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology in October of 2022 examined acupuncture for patients with tension headaches. Out of 218 participants, results showed that acupuncture cut the number of days people suffered tension headaches by half during the course of 32 weeks. The authors concluded that acupuncture treatments were effective at reducing and preventing chronic tension headaches.

If you are suffering from frequent tension headaches, consider what a blend of western and Chinese medicine could do for you and your quality of life. Stop letting your headaches call the shots and take back your health.

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Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that’s characterized by excessive and unregulated electrical activity in the brain, resulting in seizures. Between seizures, there may be no symptoms of epilepsy present. However, an epileptic seizure can emerge suddenly and develop into a severe episode within minutes. Epilepsy is a difficult condition for doctors to treat, as … Western and Eastern Treatment Philosophies for Epilepsy Read More »